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Saturday 3rd October 2020
The Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
at the Martin & Co. Arena/ Northolme, Gainsborough
Boston United (3) 4
Terry Hawkridge 12, Jordan Burrow 13,
Luke Shiels 43, Fraser Preston 74
AFC Mansfield (1) 2
Lynton Karkach 26, Tom Slone 87
Attendance: Behind closed doors
AFC Mansfield Website report: Click HERE
The only time that these two clubs have met previously, was in a FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie played at the Forest Town Arena in September 2017, when the Bulls record crowd of 613 saw the Pilgrims (who were then managed by the former Mansfield Town boss Adam Murray) progress in the competition thanks to goals from Jack Broadhead and Kabongo Tshimanga, in the 13th and 95th minutes respectively.
Boston fell at the next hurdle, when they lost 3-4 (AET) in a replay at York Street against Chorley AFC, three days after drawing the initial game against the Magpies 0-0 at Victory Park.
Of course, today's Lincolnshire 'hosts' no longer play at York Street, having vacated their home (since 1933) earlier this year.
But their new facility, a 5,000 capacity stadium, located to the South West of the town, just off the A16 in Wyberton, which is being built as part of a wider regeneration project known as 'the Quadrant', isn't ready for use as of yet, due to untimely delays in the building trade that have been caused by the knock on effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Subsequently United have accepted a generous offer from the Gainsborough Trinity chairman Richard Kane, to utilise the Holy Blues pleasantly appointed Northolme enclosure as a temporary stop gap measure, until they can officially relocate to pastures new, once the delayed work schedule for their new Stadium is finally completed.
It would've thrown up an interesting scenario if Trinity (of the Northern Premier League) had reached the second qualifying round instead of the Bulls, because as the away team (playing at their own ground) none of their supporters would've been allowed into this 'behind closed doors' cup tie today, but if they had been drawn at home instead they would... and only Boston United's followers would have been forbidden to enter instead. It's certainly been a mindbogglingly busy old time behind the scenes during the days in between the draw having been made and the FA clarifying the rules under which the second qualifying can go ahead.
It won't have gone unnoticed, especially in 'famous Lincolnshire' that his groundshare arrangement and marriage of convenience represents one former Football League club in the county, helping out another. 'Everybody needs good neighbours' as the saying goes, even if they do live nearly sixty miles away.
As a National League North side, this afternoon marked the Pilgrims first start in this season's competition, whereas underdogs AFC Mansfield, who ply their trade in the NCEL, have already had to overcome three difficult obstacles so far in: Sherwood Colliery, Cleethorpes Town and Gainsborough Trinity, to reach the fourth stage of this seasons tournament. Alas, Boston United proved to be a step too far for Matt Chatfield's side... and though the visitors battled gamely, Craig Elliott's team had that bit too much quality under their bonnet and the Bulls were led around a sharp learning curve at times... but there's absolutely no shame in that at all, given that these two clubs compete in leagues three divisions apart.
Ross Duggan had the Bulls first chance, when he picked the ball up in the centre-circle before charging forward and letting fly from twenty-five yards out, but Ross Fitzsimmons got down well to his right and pushed the ball away from danger.
Jordan Thewlis made a yard of space for himself on the edge of the Mansfield area, but had to rush his left-footed shot and fizzed the ball over the bar.
The visitors went two goals behind after conceding a brace of goals just over a minute apart. The first came when Tom Platt's innocuous looking long ball towards the Bulls area evaded both Warhurst and Liam Marsden as the two of them had a mix up, that allowed Terry Hawkridge to steal the ball and roll it into the net. Hawkridge probably qualifies as the last player on the pitch you'd want to have a slip in front of on the wet surface right in front of your goal. Moments later, Thanoj cued a shot up for Thewlis that Warhurst got his hands to, but Jordan Burrow was on hand to snaffle up the loose ball and nudge it just inside the left hand upright.
Thanoj and Connor Dimaio both went close as the Bulls weathered a bit of a storm.
Matt Sykes shot over from long range and as Boston attacked again from the resulting goal kick, Warhurst confidently came out to claim the ball from the feet of Askew after Dimaio had unlocked the Bulls defence with a well weighted knock forward.
Mansfield have become adept at ripping up the script and fearing nobody in this season's FA Cup and in the twenty sixth minute, they were back in it, when Lynton Karkach controlled the ball with his back to goal on the left hand side of the six yard box, before turning smartly and planting the ball inside the back stick.
Jack Harrison had half a chance to level things up when Algar's shot was blocked and rolled into his path, but his effort flew high and wide of the target.
Duggan battled his way through the Boston ranks on the right hand edge of and stayed on his feet in spite of being manhandled, before launching a curling shot that hit the inside of the far post and crashed back into play.
Thewlis combined with Askew before catching the ball on the half-volley... his effort had goal written all over it until the ball too a nick off the Mansfield captain Josh Wilde and deflected wide via the post.
Right on the stroke of half time, Luke Shiels got his head on Thanoj's corner kick and restored the Pilgrims two goal cushion.
Mansfield knew that they needed a swift response right at the start of the second half... and it almost came, when Duggan was fould and Karkach picked out Sykes with the free kick, who struck the ball well enough but Fitzsimmons was equal to it.
Thanoj set up Shiels who shot narrowly wide, before claiming a shot for himself that he smashed into the roof of the stand behind the goal.
Dimaio took aim but skimmed a shot just past the wrong side of the upright.
The Bulls were knocking the ball about well in the middle third and to their credit were still probing for an opening instead of resorting to any hoof and hope stuff, Karkach was sent on a run into the right hand side of the area and appeared to be tripped but the referee thought otherwise. Hmm... I've seen them given, but it wasn't to be today.
To compound Mansfield's misery at not having got the decision, Paul Green, who had only been on the pitch as a substitute for three minutes, won the ball in a midfield holding role and sent Boston on their way with an exchange of quick passing, that saw Fraser Preston increase the Lincolnshire sides lead still further, with a well struck piledriver across the face of Warhurst's goal that bulged the inside of of the side netting.
A side of Boston's calibre weren't about to throw away a three goal lead now as the clock ticked down, but there was still a glimmer of hope for the Bulls, in the eighty seventh minute, when Jon D'Laryea fed the ball forward to Morgan James who quickly played it out wide to Sykes on the left, whose cross was met by Tom Slone who netted with a powerful, towering header. Slone hadn't been on the pitch very long, having joined the action from the bench late in the day... the youngster has yet to start a first team game, but will no doubt be knocking on the door soon after bagging a finish of that quality.
FT: Boston United 4 v AFC Mansfield 2
In the final analysis, the Pilgrims had been too strong for Mansfield to overcome and continue their cup run beyond this afternoon, but the experience will stand the Nottinghamshire side in good stead having battled so hard against a team of United's quality, in such testing conditions.
Good luck to Boston United in the next round.
Both teams are in action again on Tuesday, when Boston travel to Leamington for a National League North game, while the Bulls have a trip to Goole AFC on the same night to resume NCEL duties. Meanwhile, at the Northolme, Gainsborough Trinity will be taking on Nantwich Town in the Northern Premier League... it's all go innit!?
